House OKs Bill Changing Definition of Commercial Vehicles

Published: February 11, 2013

Monday, February 11, 2013, Juneau, Alaska – The Alaska House of Representatives today unanimously passed a bill to help small businesses. House Bill 15, sponsored by Representative Wes Keller, R-Wasilla, changes the definition of commercial motor vehicles so one-ton pickups and vans can be used by Alaska businesses without unnecessary and burdensome regulations.

“This is a bill that we started working on last session and it was met with almost no opposition. Time ran out before it could make it to the other body’s floor and so it died at the end of session,” Keller said. “Work on this bill has been a continued team effort with input from the departments, commercial truck companies, the Alaska Truckers Association and small business owners. It is a win-win for companies using standard heavy duty pickups and vans for their business.”

HB 15 takes into account that today’s pickups are larger and safer than in the past. The original language was written in 1999. Not having to register a smaller truck as commercial saves business owners money for insurance and inspection fees. For the state, enforcement officers will be able to devote more time to true commercial designed vehicles.

“House Bill 15 is one of those bills that you feel good about sponsoring because it represents the good things that legislators can do to improve Alaska for everyone,” Keller said.

House Bill 15 will now be transmitted to the Senate for consideration.